Theodore h



(No Model.) V

- T. H. SHOTTENBERG.

Q HORSE CHECKING DEVICE.

No. 528,698. Patented Nov. 6, 1 894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

THEODORE H. SHOTTENBERG, OF HUBBARD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHNH. DENISON, OF SAME PLACE.

HORSE-CHECKING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,698, dated November6, 1894.

Application filed January 23, 1894. Serial No. 497,818. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE H. SHOTTEN- BERG, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Hubbard, in the county of Trumbull and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inHorse-Checking Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of my invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form partof this specification.

My invention relates to that class of horse checking devices intended toenable the driver to checkand uncheck the horse by means of hiswhip-lash without quitting his seat, and its object is a new horsechecking device completely fulfilling the purpose above expressed, andof such construction as to be, not only perfectly acting and in everyway convenient in use, but also highly ornamental to the harness onwhich applied. I accom plish this object by the means hereinafterdescribed and illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure I is anisometric view of the harness saddles, and sections of the guide rein hand whip-lash l with my check-catch A and slide Fig. II is a verticalcross hook B in place. section view of the check-catch A on the line a:a; of Fig. III. Fig. III is an elevation view of the same as seen fromthe rear of the harin all ity catch-dog to retain the check strap in therequired position, which catch-dog presents two divergent prongs toengage the knotted end of a whip-lash for a means of freeing thecheck-strap touncheck the horse, combined with a device for checking upthe horse that is slidingly attached to one of the guide-reins in rearof the harness saddle, and provided also with two divergent prongs for ameans of drawing the check-strap backward by engagement with the knottedend of the whip-lash.

The check-catch A consists of the clampframe f which is attached to theharness-saddle 8, preferably by means of a screw projecting downwardfrom its lower integral portion, said lower integral portion beingsuitably concave to fit the saddle 8, above which, on right and left,extend upward on curved lines two similar sides each terminating in ahead, flat-upon the inner side, and at the top highest at the breadthcenter, to permit the rock of the catch-dog d, as will presently morefully appear. M

Between the vertical sides, and in the upper side of the lower portion,appears a rectangular transverse. groove or space of suitable breadthfor the check-strap c. The catch dog at has place between the verticalsides of the frame f, and is in its lower portion a rectangular blocksuitable to movably fit into the rectangular space of the frame f so asto clamp, when vertical, against the check-strap thus retaining it.Above the rectangular lower portion occur two divergent prongs to engagethe knotted end of a whip-lash, which in their upper portions stillfurther and more abruptly diverge, having each upon the outer side alittle below the head the slightly triangular notch n in which a head ofa side of the frame f has place, the two parts pivoted together- Theinwardly upwardbevel of the notch n acting against the fiat sides of theheads of the vertical portions of the frame f serve, by reason of theelasticity of the frame sides, to cause the catch-dog d to spring backto place when drawn from a vertical position, thus aiding gravity inmaking it instant in action.

The slide-hook B, which is attached to a guide-rein a suitably in rearof the harness saddle s, as will appear, consists of the slide ing theguide-rein 0 between the prongs and the end stems and over the centralstem the two are readily attachable and the slide-hook B will slide overthe guide-rein 0 without becoming detached. From the rear end stemextend, in upward arch, to the forward end stem, divergent prongs for ameans of engaging the knotted end of a whip-lash, so that, the end ofthe check-strap being attached to the forward stem of the slide .9 bymeans of a rectangular opening therethrough, the horse may be checked upby drawing the slide hook B backward.

It will be observed that the entrances between the prongs, both in thedog 01 and in the hook h, are made very wide so that the end. of thewhip-lash may be readily thrown into them.

My invention will now be understood and its value in accomplishing thepurpose stated will be appreciated.

I am aware that a gravity dog pivoted wit hin a clamp-frame attached toa harness-saddle for a means of checking up a horse by use of awhip-lash, and also that for unchecking by thesame means, abifurcatedpart attached to a loop that slides along the guiderein, have been knownseparately, but I am not aware that either of my above described devicesA and B was ever known until my invention thereof.

What I claim is- 1. In horse-checking devices, in combination with ameans for drawing the checkstrap backward, the unchecking device A,consisting of the clamp-frame f having an integral arched lower portionattachable to the harness saddle, above which is a portion having in itsupper side and between the upward projecting frame sides a rectangulartransverse space, such frame sides being upon curved lines terminatingin heads that are flat upon the inner sides and highest at the breadthcenters, and between which appears the check-dog 11, said check-dog (Zbeing a rectangular block in its lower portion and in its upper portiontwo divergent prongs, each having on the outer side near the upper endthe notch n, the vertical side of which notch n has an upwardly inwardbevel, and in which notches n '27. appear the Hat heads of the side ofthe frame f, said flat heads and frame sides being pivotally connected,substantially as described and for the purpose expressed.

2. In horse-checking devices, in combination with a suitable means forfreeing the check-strap, the unlocking device B consisting of thehorizontal slide 3, of flat metal in M form,fr0m the outwardly curvedend stems of which project downward for a slight distance, and thenceextend parallel with the end stem, two similar, rectangular prongs, theforward end stem presenting a rectangular opening, and there appearingattached to and arched over the upper surface from the rear end stem tothe forward end stem two divergent prongs substantially as described andfor the purpose expressed.

3. In horse-checking devices, in combination, the unchecking device A,consisting of the clamp-frame f attachable to the harness saddle andhaving two upward projecting sides terminating in flat heads highest atthe breadth center and between which, in the upper side of thehorizontal portion, occurs a rectangular transverse space, and betweenwhich sides also appears the check-dog d, said check-dog at being arectangular block in its lower portion, and in its upper portion twodivergent prongs, each having on the outer side near the upper end thenotch n, the vertical side of which notch n has an upwardly inwardbevel, and in which notch '11. the flat heads of the sides of the framef have place pivoted thereto; and the unlocking device B, consisting ofthe horizontal slide 3, of fiat metal in M form, from the end'stems ofwhich project downward for a slight distance and thence extend parallelwith the end stems, two similar prongs, the forward end stem having arectangular opening, and there appearing attached to and arched over theupper surface from the rear to the forward end stem, two divergentprongs, substantially as described and for the purpose expressed.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

THEO DORE H. SHOTTENBERG.

Witnesses:

J. H. DENISON, W. H. BENSON.

